Povetkin (25-0, 17 knockouts), a 2004 Olympic gold medalist from Russia, stunned the 39-year-old American with an overhand right less than a minute into meaningless “title” bout, which the WBA mandated.

Povetkin was clearly quicker and more mobile than Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs), who appeared ponderous while stalking forward behind a pushing jab. The 33-year-old Russian looked to time left hooks after Rahman’s slow jab and he found the mark within the first minute of the second round.

A left hook buzzed Rahman into the ropes where Povetkin swarmed the Baltimore native with an assortment of power shots until referee Gustavo Padilla broke them up following a clinch. Rahman, who draped his right arm over the top rope, did not try to leave the ropes or fire back as Povetkin walked in and landed a big lead left hook that promted Padilla to wave the embarrassing slaughter off at 1:46 of the round.

There wasn’t much to say about Rahman following the fight, so questions turned to when Povetkin, who had turned down shots at RING champ Wladimir Klitschko in 2008 and 2010, would finally be willing to step up and face the real champion of the heavyweight division.

“We improve every day so I’ll get better and better over the next few months,” said Povetkin, who is now trained by former 140-pound champ and hall-of-famer Kostya Tszyu, “and of course I’ll be ready.”